Corgi Aviation Archive Series Die-cast Model

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Ixe - ML407, Squadron Leader John 'Johnnie' Houlton, No. 485 (New Zealand) Squadron, D-Day, WWII, June 6, 1944

1:72 Scale.  Length: 5".  Wingspan: 6.1"

Order in advance for an expected arrival in July 2024. The release date is subject to change by the manufacturer.

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Limited Edition

Constructed as a Mk.IXc variant at the famous Castle Bromwich 'Shadow Factory' in early 1944 Supermarine Spitfire No. ML407 stamped her name in history as the first Allied fighter to claim a Luftwaffe aircraft shot down following the Allied amphibious landings on D-Day. It also boasts an impressive post-war flying career which continues to this day.

She flew operationally throughout the final months of WWII, serving with six different squadrons of the RAF's 2nd Tactical Air Force and amassing 176 combat sorties and 319 hours of combat flying in the process. She was delivered to No. 485 (New Zealand) Squadron on April 29, 1944 and assigned to Flying Officer John ‘Johnnie’ Houlton in preparation for operations covering the D-Day landings.

No. 485 Squadron moved operations to RAF Selsey as this was the closest UK mainland airfield to the landing beaches the squadron's aircraft would have to protect on June 6, 1944. On D-Day John Houlton caught sight of a Junkers Ju-88 attempting to find cover in the clouds, and, having adjusted his new gyroscopic gunsight for a longer distance shot, gave the Luftwaffe aircraft short burst from around 500 yards.

The Ju-88 burst into flames and plummeted earthwards, with the crew taking to their parachutes. Houlton and Spitfire ML407 had just become the first Allied pilot/aircraft combination to shoot down an enemy aircraft following the D-Day landings.

The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries during World War II and into the 1950s as a front line fighter and in secondary roles. The Spitfire was first flown on March 5, 1936 and entered service with the RAF on August 4 1938. It served in several roles, including interceptor, photo-reconnaissance, fighter bomber, carrier-based fighter, and trainer. The Spitfire was built in many variants, using several wing configurations. It was produced in greater numbers than any other British aircraft and was the only British fighter in continuous production throughout the war. When production ended in February 1948, a total of 20,351 Spitfires of all variants had been built.


Corgi is a leading manufacturer of high quality, pre-built, diecast model airplanes. Every model is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, using specifications of the original aircraft. Corgi models are made with diecast metal and some plastic components.

This model of a Spitfire Mk.Ixe features: